Liverpool: 'Premier League Is The Best' - Sakho

Reds defender Mamadou Sakho has praised the quality of the Premier League and believes playing in the competition will help him develop...

New Liverpool recruit Mamadou Sakho is relishing the challenge of competing in the lauded surrounds of the English top flight.

Speaking to the club's official TV station, the deadline day arrival from Paris Saint-Germain revealed: "For me, the Premier League is the best competition in the world. It demands a great deal of rigour and concentration from all players and that can only help me develop as a person and as a player.

"I felt I had done it all with Paris and that it was time for me to turn the page. This is a new page in the history of Liverpool and for me - I want to make my mark on that page."

Sakho got a taste of what to expect on Monday night when injury to Reds vice-captain Daniel Agger thrust him into action against Swansea City.

But the £17million man is no stranger to the big stage following a successful six year period with his previous employers.

Sakho amassed over 200 appearances for PSG, winning a title and two domestic cups along the way.

The 23-year-old, a one-time captain of his boyhood club, also owns 14 full French caps but still views the move to Anfield as a big step.

"Of course coming here was a big step for me," said Sakho. "I'd been with PSG from the age of 12 but there comes a time in every player's life when you have to make some career choices.

"I had achieved everything I had wanted to do with Paris Saint-Germain. We had won the title, and I made the decision a while ago that I wanted to take on something else.

"I knew I wanted to experience a different culture and learn new things and when Liverpool came in for me I was easily convinced. I was happy to leave in the end.

"It's all going well for me here so far. I've settled in quickly. I left Paris to join an ambitious club and I'm very excited about the project here."

Vital VerdictIt's early days of course, and there are certainly some things that need to be worked on when looking back at the Swansea performance, but Sakho appears to have all the tools required to be a success in the Premier League. Physically there seems little doubt that he is capable of meeting the rigours of life in the competition and hopefully, once fully up to speed, his decision making when it comes to going to ground and pressing will also develop. Sakho could be one hell of a player for us over the next decade.